JP2007259037A - Television receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a television receiver capable of avoiding a state of a sound output in an unintendedly large sound volume when the sound output is restarted. <P>SOLUTION: The television receiver includes a control section for increasing an output sound volume from a mute sound volume (releasing a silence state: steps 54, 62) in the case of mute release processing (at the restart of the sound output), and when a first sound volume just before shift to a mute state is a preset second sound volume or over (step 60), the control section increases the output sound volume up to a preset third sound volume lower than the first sound volume in the mute release processing (steps 61, 62). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a television having an audio mute function.

As this type of television, a television equipped with a sound volume control device for performing audio mute processing is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-122097. In this television, when a key input signal is output from the operation unit (console console) in response to the operation of the audio mute key, the control unit (microcomputer) controls the audio mute circuit to thereby output the audio signal from the audio amplification circuit. Stop (mute) the output of. In this state, for example, when the volume up key is operated, the control unit controls the audio mute circuit according to the key input signal from the operation unit, thereby resuming the output of the audio signal from the audio amplifying circuit (muting is not performed). To release). On the other hand, when the volume down key is operated, the control unit first reduces the set value of the output volume when the audio output is resumed according to the time during which the volume down key is pressed, When the pressing operation is released, the audio mute circuit is controlled to resume the output of the audio signal from the audio amplifying circuit so that the audio is output with the set value.
JP-A-5-122097 (page 2-3)

However, the conventional television has the following problems. That is, in the conventional television, when the volume down key is operated in a state where sound output is stopped, the control unit does not immediately increase the output volume to the volume at the time when the sound mute key is operated. A configuration is adopted in which the output of the sound is resumed after the set value of the output sound volume when the sound output is resumed is lowered according to the time during which the down key is pressed. As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation in which sound output is resumed at a loud volume that hinders conversation.
However, in the conventional television, when the output of the audio signal is stopped and a person who does not know the operation method operates the volume up key to increase the output volume, the operation at the time of operation of the audio mute key is performed. Sound output resumes at high volume. in this case,
When the volume up key on the TV main unit is operated, sound output is resumed at a higher volume by the amount closer to the speaker of the main unit than when the volume up key on the remote control is operated. It feels uncomfortable. As described above, the conventional television has a problem in that sound is output at an unintended large volume when the sound output is resumed by a key operation of a person unaccustomed to the operation.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and a main object of the present invention is to provide a television capable of avoiding a situation in which sound is output at an unintended large volume when sound output is resumed.

In order to achieve the above object, the television according to the present invention includes a control unit that increases the output volume from the mute volume during the mute release process, and the control unit sets the first volume immediately before the transition to the mute state. When the volume is equal to or higher than the second volume, the output volume is increased to a preset third volume that is lower than the first volume during the mute release process. Note that the “mute volume” in the present invention is not limited to the silent state (silenced state), and includes a volume that is low enough to confirm whether there is a ringtone for a telephone call or the presence of a visitor.

According to this television, the first volume immediately before the transition to the mute state is set to the predetermined second volume.
When the mute release processing is performed, the output volume immediately before transitioning to the mute state is high by raising the output volume to a third volume that is lower than the first volume during the mute release process. Even if the output volume is resumed at the output volume when the mute state is released, the output volume is lower than the high output volume when the output volume immediately before the transition to the mute state is high. Since the output is started, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the output of the sound is resumed at an unintended large volume.

In the television according to the present invention, the third volume is set to be lower than the second volume.

According to this television, when the third sound volume is set lower than the second sound volume, when the output sound volume immediately before the transition to the mute state is large, the output sound volume (the third sound volume) that is specified to be small to some extent is set. Since the sound output is started at the sound volume), it is possible to avoid a situation where the sound output is resumed at an unintended large sound volume.

Furthermore, in the television according to the present invention, during the mute release processing, the control unit gradually increases the output volume to the first volume after the output volume has been increased to the third volume. .

According to this television, during the mute release process, the output volume is increased to the third volume, and then the output volume is gradually increased to the first volume. While avoiding the situation where sound is output, it is possible to automatically return to the output volume immediately before the transition to the mute state without operating the remote control device or the like thereafter.

In the television according to the present invention, when the signal from the remote control device for increasing or decreasing the output volume is received, the control unit passes the third volume during the mute release processing. Without increasing the output volume to the first volume.

According to this television, when a signal from the remote control device for increasing or decreasing the output volume is received, the output volume is increased to the first volume without going through the third volume, When the remote control device is operated at a position far away from the unit to release the mute state, audio output is started at the output volume immediately before the transition to the mute state, and for example, at the position close to the main unit, When the operation unit is operated to cancel the mute state, the sound output can be resumed at a somewhat small output volume without starting the sound output at a large volume immediately before the transition to the mute state.

Hereinafter, the best mode of a television according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG.
The television 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a rear projection type television that is configured to be capable of displaying television images and outputting sound corresponding to the images, and includes a main body 2 and a remote controller 3 dedicated to the television 1. In this case, the remote control 3 is an example of a remote control device according to the present invention,
As shown in FIG. 2, various operation keys such as a power key 41, a channel up key 42a, a channel down key 42b, a volume up key 43a, a volume down key 43b, a mute key 44, and a menu key 45 are arranged. Yes. Remote control 3
Outputs an infrared signal Si capable of specifying the operation contents corresponding to the key operations of the various keys described above.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the main unit 2 of the television 1 includes a channel selection processing unit 11, a preset data storage unit 12, a tuner 13, a video / audio processing unit 14, an audio signal output unit 15, a speaker 16,
A video signal output unit 17, a display unit 18, a volume data storage unit 19, a control unit 20, an operation unit 21, a light receiving unit 22, and a key input processing unit 23 are provided. The channel selection processing unit 11 controls the tuner 13 according to the control of the control unit 20, thereby receiving the designated channel and outputting the broadcast signal Sb. The preset data storage unit 12 stores channel information (information about a channel to be displayed when the power is turned on next time) and the like about the channel displayed when the power is turned off. The tuner 13 outputs the broadcast signal Sb of the designated channel to the video / audio processing unit 14 under the control of the channel selection processing unit 11. The video / audio processing unit 14 includes, as an example, an IF circuit, an audio detection circuit, a video detection circuit, an A / D conversion unit (all not shown), and the like, and an audio signal Ss1 based on the broadcast signal Sb output from the tuner 13. The video signal Sp1 is output to the audio signal output unit 15 and the video signal output unit 17.

The audio signal output unit 15 uses the audio signal Ss1 output from the video / audio processing unit 14 as the control unit 2.
Amplified according to the control of 0 and output to the speaker 16 as the audio signal Ss2. Speaker 16
Outputs audio corresponding to the audio signal Ss2 at an output volume corresponding to the signal level of the audio signal Ss2 output from the audio signal output unit 15. The “voice” in the present specification includes not only a human voice but also various “sounds” such as bird calls, wind sounds, and music. The video signal output unit 17 executes video processing on the video signal Sp 1 output from the video / audio processing unit 14 to generate a display video signal Sp 2 and outputs the generated video signal Sp 2 to the display unit 18. The display unit 18 includes an optical engine and a screen panel (not shown), and displays various images based on the video signal Sp2 output from the video signal output unit 17. Specifically, the display unit 18 displays various images on the screen panel by projecting projection light, which is light-modulated based on the output video signal Sp2, onto the screen panel from the back side. In this case, the above optical engine is, for example,
A light source, a light modulation element (for example, a digital micromirror device or a liquid crystal light valve), and a projection lens (both not shown) are configured.

The volume data storage unit 19 stores volume data Dv. In this case, the volume data Dv is
When the sound output from the speaker 16 is set to the mute state (an example of the mute state in the present invention) in a key input process 50 described later (when the sound is muted: when shifting to the mute state), the speaker immediately before that is set. 16 is generated by the control unit 20 so that the output volume of the sound output from 16 can be specified. The control unit 20 controls the television 1 as a whole. Specifically, the control unit 20 responds to each key operation of the remote controller 3 or the operation unit 21 with the key input processing unit 2.
3 is executed in accordance with the control signal Sc output from 3 as described later. In addition, the control unit 20 controls the channel selection processing unit 11 to receive the designated channel, and controls the video / audio processing unit 14 to generate the audio signal Ss1 and the video signal Sp1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 21 includes a power key 31, a channel up key 32a, a channel down key 32b, a volume up key 33a, a volume down key 33b, and a mute key 34, and operation signals corresponding to these operations. So is output to the key input processing unit 23. The light receiving unit 22 receives the infrared signal Si output from the remote controller 3, converts it into the operation signal So, and outputs it to the key input processing unit 23. The key input processing unit 23 is the operation unit 2
1 and the operation signal So output from the light receiving unit 22, the control signal Sc is generated, and the generated control signal Sc is output to the control unit 20.

Next, the overall operation of the television 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. In the television 1, when the power key 31, 41 of the remote controller 3 or the operation unit 21 is operated, the channel (the preset data storage channel) that the tuner 13 was selected at the time of the previous power cut-off according to the control of the channel selection processing unit 11. The channel corresponding to the channel information stored in the unit 12) is received and the broadcast signal Sb is output to the video / audio processing unit 14. In response to this, the video / audio processing unit 14
The audio signal Ss1 based on the broadcast signal Sb is output to the audio signal output unit 15 and the video signal S
p1 is output to the video signal output unit 17. At this time, the audio signal output unit 15 amplifies the audio signal Ss1 output from the video / audio processing unit 14 to a predetermined output volume and outputs the audio signal Ss2 to the speaker 16 as controlled by the control unit 20. To do. The video signal output unit 1
7 is a video signal S for display based on the video signal Sp1 output from the video / audio processing unit 14.
p2 is generated and output to the display unit 18. As a result, as shown in FIG.
Is displayed on the screen panel of the display unit 18 and sound corresponding to the television image Pt is output from the speaker 16 at a predetermined output volume.

At this time, for example, when temporarily stopping the voice output in response to an incoming call,
As an example, the mute key 44 of the remote controller 3 is operated. In response to this, an infrared signal Si corresponding to the operation of the mute key 44 is output from the remote controller 3, and an operation signal So is output from the light receiving unit 22 that has received the infrared signal Si to the key input processing unit 23. Input processing unit 23
The control signal Sc is output from the control unit 20 to the control unit 20. On the other hand, the control unit 20 that has received the control signal Sc.
Starts the key input process 50 shown in FIG.

In this key input process 50, the control unit 20 first determines whether the operated key is one of the mute keys 34, 44 or other keys based on the control signal Sc output from the key input processing unit 23. (Step 51). At this time, it is determined that the mute key 44 has been operated, and it is determined whether or not the television 1 is in a mute state (mute state) (step 5).
2). Next, the control unit 20 determines that the sound is not muted, and outputs a value (as an example) of an output volume at the time when the mute key 44 is operated (an example of “first volume just before shifting to the mute state” in the present invention). The sound volume data storage unit 19 stores the sound volume data Dv in the 25th sound volume among the 40 sound volumes. Subsequently, the output of the sound from the speaker 16 is stopped by outputting the control signal Sd to the sound signal output unit 15 (the sound output state is set to the mute state: transition to the “mute state” in the present invention: Step 53), the key input process 50 is terminated. Thereby, the output of the audio signal Ss2 from the audio signal output unit 15 is stopped, and the output of the audio from the speaker 16 is stopped (becomes a mute state). In this case, with regard to the stop of audio output (transition to the mute state), not only the mute key 44 of the remote controller 3 but also the mute key 34 of the operation unit 21 is operated, the control unit 20 performs the above-described example process. The same processing is executed.

On the other hand, when the call is completed and the sound output is resumed, as an example, the mute key 44 of the remote controller 3 is operated again. In response to this, the control signal Sc output from the key input processing unit 23.
The control unit 20 that has received the key starts the key input process 50. At this time, in the control unit 20, the operated key is the mute key 44 (step 51), and the television 1 is in the mute state (mute state).
(Step 52). Next, the control unit 20 reads the volume data Dv from the volume data storage unit 19, and outputs a sound signal from the speaker 16 at the output volume before setting the mute state (in this example, the 25th stage). Control signal S to output unit 15
d is output (release of the mute state: mute release processing in the present invention: step 54), and the key input processing 50 is terminated. As a result, the output of the audio signal Ss2 from the audio signal output unit 15 is resumed, and the audio is output from the speaker 16 at the 25th volume (the same output volume as before the mute state is set). In this case, with respect to resumption of sound output (cancellation of the mute state), not only the mute key 44 of the remote controller 3 but also the mute key 34 of the operation unit 21 is operated, The same process is executed.

In the television 1, when the sound output is resumed, the mute keys 34 and 44 as described above are used.
In addition to the above operation, the mute state can be canceled by operating either the volume up key 43a or the volume down key 43b of the remote controller 3. Specifically, when one of the volume up key 43a and the volume down key 43b of the remote controller 3 is operated, the control unit 20 that has received the control signal Sc output from the key input processing unit 23 (“ “When receiving a signal from the remote control device for increasing or decreasing the output volume”), the key input process 50 is started. At this time, the control unit 20 determines that the operated key is not the mute keys 34 and 44 (step 51) but the volume adjustment key of the remote controller 3 is operated (step 55).

Next, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the television 1 is in a mute state (mute state) (
Step 56) When the sound is not muted, the output volume is adjusted according to the operated key (the output volume is decreased or increased by one level: Step 57), and the key input process 50 is terminated. On the other hand, when the television 1 is in the mute state (mute state) (step 56), the output volume before setting the mute state based on the volume data Dv read from the volume data storage unit 19 (in this example, the 25th stage) Then, the control signal Sd is output to the audio signal output unit 15 so that the audio is output from the speaker 16 (release of the mute state: step 54), and the key input process 50 is terminated. As a result, the output of the audio signal Ss2 from the audio signal output unit 15 is resumed, and as described later, the output is directly 25 without going through the third volume in the present invention.
The sound is output from the speaker 16 at the stage volume (the same output volume as before the mute state is set).

On the other hand, when the mute state is set by operating the mute keys 34 and 44, the main body 2
When the volume up key 33a and the volume down key 33b in the operation unit 21 are operated, the control unit 20 outputs the output volume (volume data storage unit 1 when the mute state is set).
9 to cancel the mute state in the following manner. First, when the volume up key 33a of the operation unit 21 is operated, the control unit 20 that has received the control signal Sc output from the key input processing unit 23 performs the key input processing 50.
To start. At this time, the controller 20 operates the mute keys 34 and 44 and the volume adjustment keys (volume up key 43a and volume down key 43b) of the remote controller 3 as the operated keys.
(Steps 51 and 55), it is determined that the volume adjustment key (in this example, the volume up key 33a) of the operation unit 21 has been operated (Step 58).

Next, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the television 1 is in a mute state (mute state) (
Step 59) If the sound is not muted, the output volume is adjusted according to the operated key (the output volume is lowered or raised by one step: Step 57), and the key input process 50 is terminated. On the other hand, when the television 1 is in the mute state (mute state) (step 59), the output volume before setting the mute state based on the volume data Dv read from the volume data storage unit 19 is set to a predetermined output. It is determined whether or not the sound volume is higher than or equal to the sound volume (for example, 15th of 40 sound levels: an example of the second sound volume in the present invention) (step 60).

At this time, if the output volume before setting the mute state is, for example, the 10th volume out of 40 levels (when the output volume before setting the mute state is less than the predetermined volume), the control unit 2
0 is an audio signal output unit 15 so that audio is output from the speaker 16 at the 10th volume.
Control signal Sd is output to the mute (cancellation of mute state: step 54).
Exit 0. As a result, the output of the audio signal Ss2 from the audio signal output unit 15 is resumed, and the audio is output from the speaker 16 at the tenth volume (the same output volume as before the mute state is set). The predetermined output volume (in this example, the 15th volume) can be arbitrarily set by displaying an operating condition setting screen (not shown) and inputting a numerical value (
Change).

On the other hand, when the output volume before setting the mute state is, for example, the 25th volume out of 40 levels (when the output volume before setting the mute state is higher than the predetermined output volume) (
Step 60), the control unit 20 sets the output sound volume when resuming the sound output when the mute state is released as a predetermined resumption sound volume (as an example, the 20th stage out of 40 stages: the third in the present invention) After changing to (example of volume) (step 61), the control signal Sd is output to the audio signal output unit 15 so as to output the sound from the speaker 16 at the changed 20th volume (release of the mute state: Mute release processing in the present invention: Step 62). This
The output of the audio signal Ss2 from the audio signal output unit 15 is resumed, and the audio is output from the speaker 16 at the 20th volume (the same output volume as before the mute state is set).

Subsequently, the control unit 20 outputs the control signal Sd to the audio signal output unit 15 when a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) has elapsed after restarting the audio output at the 20th volume. As an example, a volume restoration process for gradually increasing the output volume to the 25th volume (the output volume before setting to the mute state) at a pace of 1 level per second is executed (the third volume in the present invention). An example of a method for raising the volume to the first volume after passing through step 63: Step 63
), The key input process 50 is terminated. Note that the above restart volume (in this example, the 20th volume) can be arbitrarily set (changed) by displaying an operating condition setting screen (not shown) and inputting a numerical value.

Further, in the television 1, when the mute state is set, when the channel up key 32a or the channel down key 32b in the operation unit 21 is operated, the channel up key 42a or the channel down key 42b in the remote controller 3 is operated. The control at the time of channel change is different as follows.

Specifically, when the channel up key 32a or the channel down key 32b in the operation unit 21 is operated in the mute state, the control unit 20 determines that the operated key is
It is determined that the channel up key 32a is operated, for example, not the mute keys 34, 44, the volume up key 43a, the volume down key 43b, the volume up key 33a, and the volume down key 33b (steps 51, 55, 58). . At this time, the channel selection processing unit 11 is controlled to cause the tuner 13 to receive the channel higher by one, and the same processing as the processing after step 61 is executed (step 64).

At this time, for example, the output volume before setting the mute state is 25 of 40 levels, for example.
When the volume is at the stage (when the output volume before setting the mute state is larger than the predetermined output volume) (step 60), the control unit 20 resumes outputting the sound when the mute state is released. After the sound volume is changed to the 20th stage, the audio signal output unit 15 is controlled to output the sound from the speaker 16 at the changed 20th stage volume. As a result, the speakers 16 to 2
The sound of the new channel is output at the 0th volume. Next, the control unit 20 controls the audio signal output unit 15 at the time when a predetermined time has elapsed after restarting the audio output,
Gradually increase the output volume to the 5th level (the output volume before setting to mute)
This key input process 50 is terminated.

On the other hand, when the channel up key 42a or the channel down key 42b of the remote controller 3 is operated in the mute state, the control unit 20 indicates that the operated keys are the mute keys 34, 44, the volume up key 43a, the volume down key 43b, It is determined that neither the volume up key 33a nor the volume down key 33b is operated, for example, the channel up key 42a is operated (steps 51, 55, 58). In this case,
The channel selection processing unit 11 is controlled so that the tuner 13 receives the channel one level above, and the output volume before setting the mute state based on the volume data Dv read from the volume data storage unit 19 (in this example, In step 25), the control signal Sd is output to the audio signal output unit 15 so as to output audio from the speaker 16 (step 64), and the key input processing 50 is terminated. As a result, the output of the audio signal Ss2 from the audio signal output unit 15 is resumed, and the sound of the new channel is output from the speaker 16 at the 25th level of the volume (the same output volume as before the mute state is set). .

Thus, according to the television 1, the first volume immediately before the transition to the mute state (for example, the 25th volume out of 40 levels) is the second volume (for example, the 15th volume). When the mute release processing is performed, the volume is lowered to the third volume (for example, the 20th volume) as the mute release process, and the mute state is entered. Even if the output volume just before the mute state is high, when the mute state is released, the sound output is resumed at that output volume. Since voice output is started at an output volume lower than the volume, it is possible to avoid a situation where voice output is resumed at an unintended high volume.

Further, according to the television 1, since the third volume in the present invention is set to a lower volume than the second volume in the present invention, when the output volume immediately before shifting to the mute state is large, it is defined in advance. Since the sound output is started at a somewhat lower output volume (third volume), it is possible to avoid a situation where the sound output is resumed at an unintended high volume.

Furthermore, according to the television 1, during the mute release process, the output volume is increased to the third volume, and then the output volume is gradually increased to the first volume. It is possible to automatically return to the output volume immediately before the transition to the mute state without operating the remote controller 3 or the operation unit 21 while avoiding the situation where the sound at the sound volume is output.

Further, according to the television 1, when the infrared signal Si (control signal Sc) is received from the remote controller 3 or the like for increasing or decreasing the output volume, the output volume is set to the first level without passing through the third volume. When the mute state is released by operating the remote controller 3 or the like at a position far from the main body 2 (speaker 16) of the television 1 by raising the volume to 1, the sound is output at the output volume immediately before the transition to the mute state. For example, when the operation unit 21 is operated at a position close to the main body 2 (speaker 16) to cancel the mute state, output of sound is started at a large volume immediately before the transition to the mute state. Without any problem, the sound output can be resumed at a somewhat small output volume.

In addition, this invention is not limited to said structure. For example, although a rear projection television has been described above, the present invention can be applied to a television having various displays such as a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, and an organic EL display. In this case, the television in the present invention includes various televisions in which a display and a tuner are configured separately. In addition, the present invention can be applied to a monitor (a display device that does not include a tuner).

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a television 1. FIG. 2 is a front view of a television 1 and a remote controller 3. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a key input process 50.

Explanation of symbols

1 TV, 2 main unit, 3 remote control, 15 audio signal output unit, 16 speaker, 1
9 Volume data storage unit, 20 control unit, 21 operation unit, 22 light receiving unit, 23 key input processing unit, 33a, 43a volume up key, 33b, 43b volume down key, 34, 44 mute key, 50 key input processing, Dv Volume data, Sc, Sd control signal, Si infrared signal, So operation signal

Claims (4)

With a control unit that increases the output volume from the mute volume during the mute release process,
When the first volume immediately before the transition to the mute state is equal to or higher than a preset second volume, the control unit has a volume lower than the first volume during the mute release process. A television that increases the output volume to a set third volume. The television set according to claim 1, wherein the third volume is set to be lower than the second volume. The control unit gradually increases the output volume to the first volume after increasing the output volume to the third volume during the mute release processing.
The listed TV. When the control unit receives a signal from the remote control device for increasing or decreasing the output volume, the control unit reduces the output volume without passing through the third volume during the mute release processing. The television according to claim 1, wherein the television is increased to a volume of 1.

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